Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 33

How Real
Servants Acts
Section 33
Pages 257-264
Monday 15 November 2010

We serve God
by serving
others

World - greatness = power,
possessions, prestige, position -
you can demand service.
Jesus - greatness = service
The disciples argued about
who was greatest!
Church leaders still compete
for the ‘best seat’
Jesus called us to be servants
- we use the term servant
leaders, what does that tell
you?

Having a servant heart is more
important than knowing your
shape - God shaped us for
service.
Without a servants heart you
will use your shape to excuse
yourself meeting other peoples
needs.
Shape might reveal ministry -
servant heart reveals maturity.

Having a servant heart is more
important than knowing your
shape - God shaped us for
service.
Without a servants heart you
will use your shape to excuse
yourself meeting other peoples
needs.
Shape might reveal ministry -
servant heart reveals maturity.
God tests your
heart by seeing if
you will serve in
areas you do not
feel ‘shaped for’.
Anyone can be a
servant - all it
requires is
character!

Real servants make
themselves available to serve
Real servants are ready, like a
soldier they are always ready
for duty.They do not choose
when it is convenient - they
do what is needed even if it
is not convenient.

Real servants make
themselves available to serve
Real servants are ready, like a
soldier they are always ready
for duty.They do not choose
when it is convenient - they
do what is needed even if it
is not convenient.
Are you available for
God at any time?
Do you pick and
choose what you
would like to do?
Does God have to ask
your permission to
use you?

Real servants pay attention
to needs
Servants are always looking
for ways to help other
people.
Gal 6:10Therefore, as we
have opportunity, let us do
good to all people, especially to
those who belong to the family
of believers.

If God puts someone right in
front of you he is giving you a
chance to be a servant - to
grow in servanthood. Such
opportunities come and go -
and we are often too slow to
see them and take hold of
them.
Prov 3:38 Do not say to your
neighbor,“Come back tomorrow
and I’ll give it to you”— when
you already have it with you.

“Do all the good
you can, by al the
means you can, in
all the ways you
can, in all the
places you can, as
long as you can”
John Wesley

Real servants do the best
with what they have
Don’t wait for things to be
right - get on with serving -
Ecc 11:4 - Whoever watches
the wind will not plant; whoever
looks at the clouds will not
reap.
Less than perfect service is
better than good intentions -
is it right to say if it is not
done excellently it shouldn’t
be done?

Real servants do every task
with equal dedication
Col 3:23 -Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as working
for the Lord, not for human masters,
The only question is: does this job
need to be done?You are never
too important for the menial
tasks
Gal 6:3 - If anyone thinks they are
something when they are not, they
deceive themselves.

Jesus did menial tasks - and he
expects us to follow the
example he set.
John 13:15 I have set you an
example that you should do as I
have done for you.
Paul gathered ﬁrewood when
people needed to get warm.
Good opportunities often
come in small tasks - most
people wait for a “great” offer

Real servants are faithful to
their ministry
Servants don’t leave a job
half done - they ﬁnish the
task.
In many people real, strong
commitment is sadly lacking
- they make promises then
give excuses for not keeping
them

Real servants are faithful to
their ministry
Servants don’t leave a job
half done - they ﬁnish the
task.
In many people real, strong
commitment is sadly lacking
- they make promises then
give excuses for not keeping
them
Can you be counted
on to do what you
say?
Do you break a
promise?
Are you faithful to
what you said you
would do?

Matt 25:23 - “His master
replied,‘Well done, good and
faithful servant!You have been
faithful with a few things; I will
put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your
master’s happiness!’
The Bible is full of faithful
servants - are you one?

Real servants maintain a low
proﬁle
They do not call attention to
themselves or to what they do.
1 Peter 5:5 - In the same
way, you who are younger, submit
yourselves to your elders.All of
you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another,
because,“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”

The Pharisees often wanted to
draw attention to what they had
done - Matt 6:1 “Be careful not
to practice your righteousness in
front of others to be seen by them.
If you do, you will have no reward
from your Father in heaven.
Self promotion and servanthood
do not mix - real servants usually
avoid the limelight - they are
not celebrities.

You might be in an obscure place
feeling unnoticed and
unappreciated - remember God
knows where you are
Col 3:4 TM - When Christ (your
real life, remember) shows up again
on this earth, you'll show up, too—
the real you, the glorious you.
Meanwhile, be content with
obscurity, like Christ.
In heaven there is a reward for
all you have done:

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my dear
brothers and sisters, stand ﬁrm. Let
nothing move you.Always give
yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord, because you know that your
labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Matt 10:42 And if anyone gives
even a cup of cold water to one of
these little ones who is my disciple,
truly I tell you, that person will
certainly not lose their reward.”

Point to ponder
I serve God by serving others

Verse to remember
Matt 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of
cold water to one of these little ones
who is my disciple, truly I tell you,
that person will certainly not lose
their reward.”

Question to consider
Which of the 6 characteristics of
real servants offers the greatest
challenge to me?

Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 33

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked (20)

Similar to Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 33 (20)

More from Richard Chamberlain (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: Section 33